I saw the Caped Crusaders Return...

The wonderful thing about animation is that it can conjure sequels to movies and television shows well after they've exited their prime. Then again, has the Adam West/Burt Ward incarnation of the Caped Crusaders ever left our pop-cultural consciousness? Gosh, no, which is why a revisit of any sort seems only justified. 

As our good fortune would have it, Warner Brothers/DC has fashioned, with the help of director Rick Morales, the animated "Return of the Caped Crusaders", a film which wisely utilizes the voices of not only West and Ward, but Julie Newmar, reprising her delightful role of Catwoman. Meee-ooow!!! (But don't be surprised--SPOILER-- if a couple of other Catwomen surface along the line...)

The plot is of the basic reunion variety, for all intents and purposes a villain-rally sequel to the beloved '66 theatrical film, though with a few Cold War/Space Age trimmings. In addition to Catwoman, the primary baddies include Joker, Penguin and Riddler, who've broken their shackles and re-teamed in pursuit of a super-duper Replica Ray Gun. They hope once more to purge Gotham of the Dynamic Duo and seize conquest beyond the fabled city, or if that fails, at least make Batman bad, but come on, is that even possible? (Hint: The latter plot device is a clever way to essay Batman's evolution from West's version to the recent, darker, cinematic editions, though as the story progresses, the concept eventually steers in a different direction.)

The vile crusade contains a number of cat-and-mouse set-ups, including the already famous, TV-dinner sequence revealed in the film's teaser trailer, plus the expected "Zap"/"Boff"/"Oof" brawls: nothing too sophisticated or profound, but for scriptwriters Michael Jelenic and James Tucker to have done otherwise would have gone against the grain. This is classic "Batman '66", or at least as close to it as we could hope to get. 

To give the reunion the required atmosphere, the animation is flamboyantly garish, featuring rich hues and a fluid thickness that, after a spell, plays upon one's mind as would any '60s Batman adventure, and all adorned by those spectacularly slanted angles and familiar musical queues, plus cameos by a number of villains outside the headlining quartet. (BTW: the opening credits are a spellbinding, visual feast, inserting the Caped Crusaders and their foes in recreations of classic Batman comic covers.) 

Unfortunately, the voices of Joker, Penguin and Riddler never quite emulate the inimitable tones of Cesar Romero, Burgess Meredith and Frank Gorshin, though they come pretty close under the circumstances; the same can be said for Alfred; Aunt Harriet; Commissioner Gordon; and Chief O'Hara. Regardless of this debatable imbalance, the adventure remains a bubbly, satisfying experience, and a welcome submission to our present culture of sinister tones and vague morality: guaranteed, therefore, to put a sentimental tear in many a Bat-fan's eye. (The movie also works as a nifty companion piece to the live-action, memory-lane testament, "Return to the Bat Cave", for those desiring an evening's double bill.)

Too bad this animated approach wasn't implemented sooner, when other cast members were alive. Nonetheless, it's nice to see this one come about, and it appears a sequel is already in the works: an adaptation of the "lost" Harlan Ellison Two-Face introduction, with William Shatner set to voice Batman's legendary foe. Holy Bat-Dream Come True!!!

"Return of the Caped Crusaders" is currently available for viewing via Amazon and will hit disc in early November.

I saw Batman: Bad Blood...

Derived from such printed adventures as "Batman Incorporated" and "Battle for the Cowl", director Jay Oliva's "Batman: Bad Blood" is the latest in the animated Damian Wayne saga (represented previously by "Son of Batman" and "Batman vs Robin"), which means by its very nature, it's has a bratty quality.

As presented through J.M. DeMatteis' script, however, the concept isn't half bad: upon tackling a group of criminals, led by the tormented Heretic (a kind of cross between the Talon and Bane), Bruce Wayne/Batman disappears. It's up to his son and Dick Grayson/Nightwing, to locate him. While the two exchange quips, Alfred makes it appear that Batman is still ever present via electronic means, but as the case progresses, it's inferred that another in the crusader "family" should occupy the supreme spot as Gotham's protector. 

A new flesh-and-blood Batman surfaces, but his presence is a mislead, with a connection close to home, which foreshadows later events in the film. 

Throughout much of it, Heretic remains at the center of the ongoing trouble, even going so far as to attack Wayne Enterprises and wound Lucius Fox, but what's the fiend's ultimate motive, let alone his true identify? In that, the story becomes a who-done-it of sorts, with high prospects, except for...

There at times (particularly early on) when Damian's behavior becomes hard to digest. In fact, it was a distraction in the previous outings (in all fairness, probably more so then than now), but all the same, the lad's arrogance has become a retread. Mind you, Damian is nowhere as unlikable as Calista Flockhart's Cat Grant on "Supergirl" (no one could rival that meanness), but he often acts as a monkey wrench in an otherwise well oiled machine, and for one assigned to project Robin's honorable image, that just won't do. (For the record, there are at least a few later scenes, where Damian does seem to redeem himself.)

Thank goodness Grayson's Nightwing is there (despite some of his own bitterness) to steady the proceedings. Some of the supporting/cameo characters, whether good or bad, also help the story along, such as Katherine Kane/Batwoman, whose guilt over Batman's disappearance adds pathos to the plot; the resourceful Batwing (Fox's son, Luke, as an armored Batman solider); the contemptuous Black Mask; the power-hungry Talia al Ghul; and Jervis Tetch/the Mad Hatter, who makes quite a creepy impression with his crafty, mind-altering games.

About halfway through the story, a scientific twist is revealed regarding Heretic, which links to the League of Shadows and the Waynes' overall linage. It's a clever, satisfying revelation, but also unsavory. (For what it's worth--hint, hint--the "bad blood" revolves around Damian; and in more ways than one.)

As well done as this entry is, for the sake of the saga's continuation (and I'm presuming more "Son of Batman" entries are planned), there's got to be a shift. (Perhaps such is insinuated in the film's final phase, with its strength-of-family message.) If not, and this is the best culmination the producers can offer, I'd much rather see a new Nightwing and/or Batwing adventure: a better option, indeed, than watching our heroes constantly at one another's throats. 

As I'm sure most fans will agree, the legend of Batman and Robin deserves so much better than that. Anyway, let's keep our fingers crossed that "Bad Blood'"s resolution at least signals the shape of things to come.